The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-02
VIRGINIA REPUBLICAN,.

How the Figures Were Distorted to Produce
Apparent Democratic Majority.
Washington Special.
The final returns from the Virginia election
show decided Republican majority The Vir-
ginia Democratic managers have been in panic
the returns ever since it became evident
that the Republicans had carried the State on
the popular vote. The Republican managers
sscertaned this fact before the Democrats sus-
pected it AS soon 1t made public the
Democrats, who had access to the returns, i'm
mediately refused to allow their further inspec-
ton. Then they went into secret session over
them. and finally found a form Of return that
would show an apparent Democratic majority.
This was sent to the country upon the authority
of the Secretary of State. 1t is significant as to
the political morality of the Virginia leaders
that the board Of canvassers which cooked up
these returns composed of Governor Lee,
the Auditor. Treasurer. Secretary and Attorney
general of the State After much prodding the
Dispatch, which has champIoned the distorted
returns; thus Internationally explains how the
1.-THE board of canvassers did not pass upon
what is cenominated 1.-The popular vote" Their
duty was done when they aecertained who,
cording TO the returns, were elected to the two
houses. The compilation and footings above
were made by the Dispatch, and to ascertain the
Democratic vote, the highest vote cast In
the House was taken. The Republican vote,
similarly, is the vote of the highest Republican
Candidate. No note is taken of the scattering
vote. 1t WAS considerable-two thousand proba-
bly-but appears to have been drawn equally
from the two parties. In a few counties the
votes cast for independent Republicans will be
found in the Democratic column"
The last sentence tells the whole story. The
apparent Democratic majority of 426 was manu-
featured by CHASING all independent Republican
votes, which, by the way, were unquestonably
Republican, as Democratic, and by this method
destroying Republican vote of several thousand
and approprating it to swell the Democratic
column.
In one case Republican Senator named
Causey, who had just served a term Repub-
lcau, independent and received LILO
this board of canvassers added them to the Dem
ocratic column
Another Republican vote of $685. cast for Re-
publican in Norfolk and still another of 1921,
in Scott county all Republican votes. cast for
independent candidates, were found in the Dem
ocratic column. By this false, if not fraudulent
classification, the board of canvassers was able
to show q Democratic majority on the vote by
cities and counties of 426 This is the best that
could be done for Virginia Democracy, even by
such methods aud by board which was evil
IDENTIFY willing to do anything that could be done
after the official returns had actually been fled
The Dispatch admits that the Republicans
cast 119, $50 votes, and claims a total Democrat
ic vote of Il9. SOC. Taking the 1854 independ-
appropriated for the Democracy from the Dem
ocratc total, and adding it to the admitted Re
publican vote, whore it belongs, and the cor
rected vote stands: Republican vote, 122, 1874;
Democratic vote. l16 S52 Republican majority
In Virginia on the popular VOTE ,4S2.